Saturday, December 19

You may think given my adoration of Christmas cookies, that I don't make anything else for the holidays. That's not true. I make cake. No, not fruit cake. Bad, bad childhood memory. I prefer this Spiced Sweet Potato, Cranberry, and Pecan Cake with Orange-Cinnamon Glaze.

I created this recipe last Thanksgiving and have made it a couple more times since, tweaking here and there as I go. With cranberries, pecans, cloves, and orange, it smells and tastes just like Christmas.

This the final weekend to send in your Christmas cookies! Find out how here. The deadline is Sunday, December 20th at midnight PST. And don't forget to check out the stash of Christmas cookies we've gotten so far.

Spiced Sweet Potato, Cranberry, and Pecan Cake with Orange-Cinnamon Glaze
Serves 12-16
Print recipe only here.This cake tastes even better the next day, so it's ideal for a Christmas brunch.

3. In a separate bowl, add butter and sugars. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugars. Add the sweet potatoes and eggs and beat. Add milk, honey, and vanilla, and beat. Add the flour mixture in small batches, beating after each, until just incorporated. Stir in pecans, dates, cranberries, and orange zest.

4. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted deep into the center comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding. Cool at least 30 minutes before glazing.

5. Icing: In a small bowl whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon. Add a few droplets of milk, and continue whisking until the icing is smooth and thin yet clings to the back of a spoon. Using a spoon, drizzle the icing in the grooves of the cake. Garnish with a few orange zest curls and/or chopped pecans, if desired. Allow to set for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing.

what an absolutely scrumptious combination of goodies, susan! i'm nutso about the thought of that glaze--not only would it be perfect here, but i can also think of a few other treats it'd really amp up!thanks for the link love, by the way--it's a great cake. :)

What a beautiful melee of flavours,was jus hovering round the cookie tin and now i wanna sink a biggg bite into this moist good looking delight....Boas Festas Susan....And yeah am hunting for nut cracker when i indulge into the world of ur sugar plums....

Hi Susan! I made this cake yesterday for a friend's party and everyone loved it! I used the prunes since I didn't have dates. I loved the tart cranberries and might even put more next time. I'll definately be making this again. Thanks so much! Karen P.